The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco recently announced the recipients of its 2014 Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarships. Thanks to the generosity of donors, six scholarships will be awarded to minority students attending Bay Area law schools this Fall.

2014 scholarship donors include: Arthur & Charlotte Zitrin Foundation; Jim & Carol Brosnahan; Keker & Van Nest LLP; Morrison & Foerster Foundation; Say Hey Foundation/AT&T Scholarship, and the Lawyer Referral and Information Service Scholarship.

The 2014 scholarship recipients are Eliana Corona Vasquez, Lizbeth Mateo, Gabrielle Parris, Evelyn Rangel-Medina Rosa Rivera and Elizabeth Toledo.

Eliana Corona Vasquez, who will attend UC Hastings College of the Law in the Fall, received her undergraduate degree at Vassar College in Sociology. Most recently she worked at Bay Area Legal Aid’s Domestic Violence Prevention Project as a law clerk intern. After law school she envisions working at a nonprofit that focuses on family and immigration law.

Lizbeth Mateo, is a rising second-year law student at Santa Clara University School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree from California State University Northridge in Chicano Studies. Mateo’s reason for attending law school derives from her commitment to immigrant rights. She intends on using her law degree to advocate for undocumented youth and creating comprehensive immigration reform.

Gabrielle Parris, who will attend UC Hastings College of the Law in the Fall, received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University in International Studies. Parris’ desire to become an attorney stems from her work in Chicago with refugee communities. She has worked for the Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, Loyola Refugee Outreach and the National Immigration Justice Center.

Evelyn Rangel-Medina is a second-year law student at UC Berkeley School of Law. Her goal is to become a public interest attorney providing direct client services as well as engaging in grassroots efforts. Before law school she was a Senior Advisor for the Nevada Latina/o Leadership Committee and Policy Director, Green Collar Job Campaigns at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. She is currently interning at the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office.

Rosie Rivera, a rising second-year law student at the University of San Francisco School of Law, received her undergraduate degree from California State University – East Bay in Political Science. Rivera’s education and professional experience has focused on uplifting her community. For five years she has been a Gang Prevention Facilitator at the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center and she is currently the Community Relations Commissioner of the City of San Mateo.

Elizabeth Toledo, a rising second-year law student at UC Berkeley School of Law, graduated from Villanova University in Political Science. Prior to law school she was a teacher trainer for the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. She is passionate about women’s rights and is currently the editor for the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice. After law school, Toledo hopes to work for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Scholarships were awarded based on financial need, scholastics, involvement in public service, and barriers faced in life. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2014-2015 school year, which may be renewable for an additional one to two years.

Since its inception in 1998, BASF’s Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship program has provided financial assistance to more than 91 law students. The program was established to reaffirm a commitment to diversity in legal education and the legal profession.